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Comment by dsyph3r | Hacker News Reader

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dsyph3r·

I think you're missing the point.

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I think github's missing the point. To encourage a group to do open source we provide them with private repositories?

I get how this group may feel hesitant to post something in the open source world, but so was I, and I'm a guy.

Here's an analogy that maybe fits: Consider you meet someone that's afraid of flying. Do you say "come with me, I'll show you its safe" or do you say "here's a bunch of train and bus passes"

Writing code in an open source environment can be extremely intimidating. There is an unfortunate element of elitism around writing code and this can be very off putting for many people. Being able to code, learn, and get criticism in the privacy of a private repository is a big step toward open sourcing your code

I'm pro-elitism. It seems to me that only the most dedicated and obsessed have even a small chance of ever doing decent work, and I'm all for dissuading everyone else from adding to the mountain of poorly understood and unreliable garbage holding back our profession. I don't think anyone knows how to give (inflict?) that obsession to any child who didn't already have it, but luring the timid into a field at this stage so lacking in rigor is a waste of the useful talents they could offer to other fields.

>come with me, I'll show you its safe

That's exactly what's happening. Plus they are paying for the tickets.

Since "the point" is a PR stunt for a "problem" that has at least one other solution, I don't blame him.

I think you're missing segiotapia's point.

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